Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia will have a different role when activated off 60-day IL

The Chicago Cubs are 74-54 following the 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon. Still, they took two out of three from their cross-town rivals, and are primed to take on the lowly Seattle Mariners this weekend.

What is more, the Cubs announced on Wednesday that their injured closer, Daniel Palencia, will be activated from the injured list on Friday. He recently had been transferred to the 60-day injured list in a flurry of roster moves Chicago made as more players were placed on respective injured lists and prospects called up to take their spots on the active roster.

Daniel Palencia will not be the Chicago Cubs closer when he returns

Palencia’s move to the 60-day injured list was not because he suffered a setback in his recovery. Instead, it was because Chicago temporarily needed to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

Earlier today, the Cubs announced that their closer will be activated from the injured list on Friday and join them for their series against the Mariners. However, he will not return as their closer.

According to Cubs Insider:

“Rather than have him resume his role as closer, Craig Counsell said on Tuesday that Palencia will serve as an out-getter as the situation dictates. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy joined The Score’s Mully & Haugh Wednesday morning to discuss the pending activation and how the Cubs view Palencia as a weapon moving forward.”

Instead of being the closer, manager Craig Counsell plans on using him as an “out-getter.” In other words, he will be used in high-leverage situations at various points in any given game that calls for a pitcher to get 1-2 outs.

Presumably, the hope is that the Cubs can preserve Palencia for a hopeful run in the MLB Playoffs.

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